Retainer for leaflets or the like



Nov. 15, 1960 G. SHUGART 2,960,090

RETAINER FOR LEAFLETS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 11, 1956 v 2 Sheets-Sh et 1 Er I INVENTOR. GEORGE SHUGART g gw w 4 x L/f- Q4 so l4" I NOV. 15, 1960 SHUGART 2,960,090

RETAINER FOR LEAFLETS OR THE LIKE Filed Oct. 11, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3*.

l v. \4 2, 0 0 S9 2 0 2 g! INVENTOR. Q GEORGE SHUGART United States Patent RETAINER FOR LEAF LETS OR THE LIKE George Shugart, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Filed Oct. 11, 1956, Ser. No. 615,349

3 Claims. (Cl. 129-40) The invention relates to a new retainer for leaflets and the like. More particularly, my invention pertains to such retainers, preferably flexible, having a slot to receive and hold the back of such retainers or the like and cooperate with a ring or post binder for that purpose.

Many publications are issued in other than book form, such as leaflets, pamphlets, booklets, gathered sections and journals, which comprise one or more double leaves having a vertical fold intermediate the vertical edges to form such a publication. When such comprehends a plurality of double leaves, the vertical folds are comonly nested in a V manner and bound by stapling or sewing through all of the aligned vertical folds, or by applying adhesive at that location to make such a publication generally of a thickness appreciably less than that of a book. In some cases, such leaflets or the like may be formed of a number of such double leaves with the vertical fold lines in registry from the inside double leaf to the outermost double leaf without any fastening being employed. Such publications, moreover, are issued in numerous heights and widths including those of the somewhat more usual sizes like quarto and octavo. The problem of holding such publications in binders, generally of the removable type, has long been a problem for librarians and others interested in accumulating and preserving such items in an orderly and readily accessible manner both for reference thereto and for storage thereof, either as active or inactive items.

By means of the new retainer articles of this invention, those problems are solved without requiring that publications in the form of leaflets or the or the like be permanently fastened together. Hence related additions or reorganization of the order thereof may, for example, be made thereto from time to time. Moreover, a practice of my invention enables such leaflets to be firmly held in a binder, preferably of a removable type, in an orderly manner and readily accessible to the user. Further, such new articles are convenient for storage of items without adding materially to the aggregate thickness of such leaflets and the like so bound. Furthermore, embodiments of my invention enable such publications having varying heights to be closely accommodated with the result that each item in a particular group is relatively precisely held. Removal of such leaflets and the like from retainers made in accordance with this invention are, if desired, as equally and readily accomplishable as is the insertion thereof into such retainers.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative only, in which:

Figure l is a side view of one flexible retainer embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure l separated at the scoring line and with the parts overlapped and in a ring binder to accommodate and retain a pamphlet which is shorter than the full height of such retainer embodiment;

ice

Figure 4 is a side view of a modified retainer embodiment of this invention originally made in two parts with means therein for clasping such parts together when overlapped;

Figure 5 is an end view of the retainer embodiment shown in Figure 4 with the parts thereof in overlapped clasping relation; 7

Figure 6 is a view of still another modification of this invention in which the holding strip is originally made in two parts and pivotally connected to the remainder of said retainer embodiment; and

Figure 7 is a still further flexible retainer embodiment of my invention characterized by opposed front members extending from the respective yokes an amount sufficient to hold the top and bottom of a relatively stiff leaflet or the like.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, a new retainer 10 may be stamped, punched or otherwise shaped out of relatively thin flat stock. The stock material may be made of plastics like acrylic or vinyl resins, superpolyamides or polystyrene, or other plastic of suitable strength and firmness; or such retainers may be made of thin metal or of cellulosic compounds or hardboard mate-' rials. In the retainer 10 embodiment, a back member 11 serves as a holding strip and a front member 12 serves as a retaining strip for leaflets and the like. Such strips are connected by a yoke 13 at the top and a yoke 14 at the bottom so constructed and arranged as to define a retainer slot 15 parallel to and between the members 11 and 12 and the yokes 13 and 14. A recessed line 16 extends transversely across retainer 10 On one or on both sides, if desired, of such retainer to form a weakened section or scoring line which will permit the upper and lower parts to be separated to accommodate shorter leaflets and the like where such are to be held,' as illustrated in Figure 3.

As shown, the front edge of slot 15 may include a notch 17 on each side of line 16 on front member 12' to 'provide a bevel entry corner for the upper and lower 7 parts of retainer 10 if and when they are so separated. The terms upper and lower as well as the terms top and bottom will be recognized as relative terms since retainers made in accordance with this invention can be turned end for end and side for side without chang-' ing their construction or functioning.

The lower part of retainer 10, that is the part below line 16, may be provided with a series of openings 18 therethrough spaced in accordance with the spacing of standard makes of ring binders; common forms having two, three or even more such rings. The upper part of retainer 10 above line 16 may be provided with like openings in suitably spaced arrangement, usually symmetrical, to the series of openings on the lower part, or may be provided with a holding slot 19 to serve such purpose. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, rings 20 of a ring binder 21 are in cooperating holding engagement respectively with holes 18 and holding slot 19 to hold retainer 10 in such binder.

It will be apparent that the matter of inserting retainer 10 into binder 21 and removing it therefrom is a simple matter and readily accomplishable. Moreover, whether retainer 10 is used with the upper and lower parts remaining unseparated, or whether such parts sep arated are lapped as shown in Figure 3, a publication 22 held thereby is precisely held so that it will not move up and down relative to the binder but will be retained as a gathered section in .a book would be re 'tained and withal it is readily accmsible for reference.

At the same time if one should wish to insert another such publication in front or in back of the publication 22, theaccomplishment of that object is facilitated by this invention. Although a ring binder is illustrateclin Figure 3 it will be recognized further that binders of the straight or bent post type may also be utilized in place of a ring binder such, as binder 21.

Preferably, retainer 10' is made of a flexible material. As shown, in that front member 12 can be flexed or sprung, out of the plane of retainer 10 if desired to more easily ac- Commodate the insertion of a double leaf publication so that half of the leaves will be on oneside of front member 12 after insertion and the remainder on the other side, the nested Vs of the leaves of the publication 23 forming a spine which is held in slot 15 between members 115 and. 12.

In the event that retainer 10 is. broken into two parts at line 16 by bending one or both of such parts out of, the plane of the retainer, such pants may be overlapped as shown inFigure 3 to accommodate a publication having a shorter height than the original height of the slot 15 in that retainer. At the same time, the binder 21 will cooperate with the holding openings 18 and slot 19 as shown in that figure to accomplish the objects of this invention. If desired, in constructing retainer 10' the bottom of slot 15 may have a little tongue 24 left therein so that it may be bent over as shown in Figure 3 and provide a rest for the more thin of flimsy leaflets. On the other hand, a rest may be provided by adding a little piece of additional thick ness at the bottom of slot 15 for such purpose by cement ing in the case of plastics or cellulose-containing mate rials or by soldering or brazing in the case of metal retainer embodiments of this invention. It'will be noted also that when a publication is in position in retainer 10 as shown in Figure 3 the sides of the publication 22 fold over'and help maintain; the-overlap between the free ends of frontmember 12 adjacent the scored lines 16.

A further embodiment of my invention is illustrated in Figures 4 and wherein parts corresponding general ly in construction and functioning to parts shown in Fig ures l to 3 are provided with the same reference numerals with the addition of a prime factor thereto.

Preferably, retainer is originally manufactured in two parts to be used in overlapping relation as illus trated in the Figure 5 view where such parts have been overlapped and the upper and lower parts of the front member 12' clasped together. Such clasping is obtained by providing in the lower part of the front member a clasping slot 25 which is provided at its upper end with an enlarged portion 26 adjacent line 16'. On the upper part of front member 12 adjacent line 16 a head 27 is provided in the form of a small rivet fastened to such part. The diameter of the cap 28 of head 27 is larger than the neck thereof extending to part 12'. The cap 28 will fit through opening 26 so that when the lapped upper and lower parts of retainer 10 are foreshortened to shorten slot the overlapped ends of front member 12' will be clasped together since the narrower portion of clasping slot 25 will'be caught'between cap 28 and the part of front member'12 to which head 27 is affixed, as shown in Figure 5.

The head 27 may be made relatively low particularly since the thickness of the material of retainer 10 is thin not exceeding a thickness of to 1, of'an inch in some cases. The upper and lower parts of the holding strip 11' will cooperate with rings orposts of a binder, one of which rings or posts will preferably extend through two superposed openings 18 in the overlap area along back member 11; If desired, the upper and lower parts of retainer 10 maybe made of a rigid material like metal without significant flexibility.

When a relatively sizable pamphlet is to be held by a retainer of my invention, such. retainer may be con structed of thin flat flexible stockin the mode shown in Figure- 6. Therein, parts correspondinggenerally intcon structio'n: and functioning to previously. described em bodiments are provided with the same reference numerals dotted outline in Figure 2.it will be seen vertical folds of the double with the addition of a double-prime factor thereto. Therein, the upper and lower parts of holding strip 11" are pivotally connected at the outer ends respectively by hollow rivets 29 and 30 to the yokes 13" and 14". The insertion of a publication into retained relation to retainer 10" may take place when the parts 11" are opened for example to the dotted line position shown in Figure 6. With the spine of the booklet in place in slot 15", the upper and lower parts of back members 11" are swung to the full line position shown in Figure 6 with the inner ends of such parts overlapped, each having an opening 18 in registry at the free end for interlocking engagement by a ring or post in a binder into which the retainer 10 is placed with the publication retained thereby. Such hollow rivets may be made of thin metal and of low height to maintain the relative flatness of retainers of this invention.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 7 is like that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and is provided with the same reference numerals for corresponding parts with the addition of the lower case letter a thereto. In the case of some double leaf nested V-fold publications there is suflicientstiffness therein so that if the spine is retained at the top and bottom of the pamplet, that will constitute suflicient retention-force. In retainer 10a, which preferably is stamped from a single sheet ofstock, the upper and lower parts of front member 12a extend only respectively from the yokes 13a and 14 a part of the distance toward the center of retainer 10a, terminating respectively at 31 and 32. member 12a forms an upper part of a slot 15a and the lower part forms a lower part of a slot 15a in themanner of a bight within'a hook. Insertion of a publication into such respective partsof the slots 15a may be performed in the same manner as described above and retainer 10a will retain such publication. Further, if and when the upper and lower parts of strip 11a are parted along. a scored line 16a, the upper and lower parts of member 12a may be overlapped for like retention thereby of shorter sized publications as generally illustrated in Figure3 hereof.

Various other embodiments and modifications. in de:v

tails of the illustrated embodiments may bemade without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A retainer for leaflets or the like, comprising,-in combination, an elongated fiat back member, an elongated fiat front member substantially in the same plane as theback member, yokes at the top and bottom of said retainer integral with the upper and lower parts respectively of said members, a plurality of holding openings extending. along said back member for engagement by cooperating parts, of a binder to hold said leaflets or the likewhen in said retainer, said back and front membersdefining a retainer slot therebetween'for engagement by the back of said leaflets or the like, the upper and lower parts of' said retainer being separable to'beoverlapped to adjust the height of said retainer slot tocorrespond generally. tothe-height of said leaflets or the like, a claspingslot in one part of' said front member of a given width and extending generally parallel to said retainer slot, said clasping slot having an enlarged portion adjacent the end thereof nearer the other of said parts, ahead projecting fromthefront member of said other part of said retainer, said head being insertable through said enlarged portion of'said'clasping slot andslidable but not-removable relative to the remainder of said clasping slot toclasp said parts of said front member together when said retainer parts are overlapped.

2. In a thin removable retainer for leaflets andthe like to, be held in a binder having a plurality of fastenermembers, in combination, a holding strip having an upper having an upper and a lower portion in respective spaced Thereby the upper part of front 5 relation to said upper and lower portions of said holding strip to define a retaining slot, the upper and lower portions of at least said holding strip being originally continuous and connected together across a weakened portion intermediate the top and bottom of said holding strip to enable said retainer to be foreshortened when said upper and lower portions are separated and overlapped, a yoke rigidly connecting the tops of said upper portions of said strips respectively, a further yoke rigidly connecting the bottoms of said lower portions of said strips respectively, each portion of said holding strip having at least one fastener member engaging opening and at least one portion of said holding strip having a spaced plurality of such openings, whereby said upper and lower portions of said strips may be adjusted in respect to the height defined by the distance between said tops and bottoms to fit the height of said leaflets or the like and at the same time accommodate holding of said retainer.

3. In a thin removable retainer for leaflets and the like to be held in a binder having a plurality of fastener members, in combination, a holding strip having an upper portion and a separable lower portion, a retaining strip having an upper and a lower portion in respective spaced relation to said upper and lower portions of said holding strip to define a retaining slot, at least said retaining strip being made of flexible material and having a rest positioned at the bottom of said retaining slot, said rest being wider than the normal thickness of said retainer, a yoke rigidly connecting the tops of said upper portions of said strips respectively, a further yoke rigidly connecting the bottoms of said lower portions of said strips respectively, each portion of said holding strip having at least one fastener member engaging opening and at least one portion of said holding strip having a spaced plurality of such openings, whereby said upper and lower portions of said strips may be adjusted in respect of the height defined by the distance between said tops and bottoms to fit the height of said leaflets or the like and at the same time accommodate holding of said retainer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,177,411 Haydock Mar. 28, 1916 1,267,630 Childs May 28, 1918 1,364,526 Schubel Jan. 4, 1921 FOREIGN PATENTS 417,207 Great Britain Oct. 1, 1934 1,118,294 France Mar. 12, 1956 of the above numbered patent requiring correction Patent Nd. 2,960,090

November 15 1960 George Shugart or appears in the-printed specification It is hereby certified. that err and that. the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l line 25 for the syllable "only" read first occurrence;

monly line 44, strike out "or the", column 3 line 26 for "of" read or column 5 line 15 for "to" read of Signed and sealed this 25th day of April 1961.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w SWIDER Attesting Ofiicer DAVID L, LADD Commissioner of Patents 

